Electric-arc lamp.



Patented lune 5, |900.

ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

(Application tiled Nov. 27, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

ma Nonms Pneus coA Puoauwo.-wAsmNuToN, u. c.

` No. 650,872. Patented Junel 5, |900.

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ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

(Application filed Nov. 27, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

l w ur-I nv ETLUT l more fully illustrate theirconstruction.

lUNIT-ED 'STAT-Ea llnrsjmr OFFICE.

WlLLlAM L. SILVEY, OF DAYTON, OHO.

ELECTRIC-ARC LAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,872, dated June 5, 1900.

Application tiled November 27, 1899. Serial No. 73 8,347. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may] concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. SLvnr, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Arc-Lam ps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to a lamp which may be used for photo-engraving, projecting, or locomotive-headlight purposes, in which a reflector is employed for concentrating and directing the rays of light from the arc in a predetermined direction; and it is the object of this improvement to produce a lamp which will be comparatively simple, very strong and durable, and which will maintain the carbons with relation to each other without their jarring together by heavy shocks. With this object in vieu7 I have devised aoapparatus as shown in the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, similar letters referring to similar parts throughout, in Which- Figure l represents av three-quarter front Viewin perspective of a complete lamp. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation in perspective with a reflector yy attached, part of the reflector being broken away in order to show the parts of the lamp inclosed by it. Fig. 3 is a frontelevation in perspective with the arclorming magnets partially Wound in order to show their construction. Fig. 4 is a top or plan view in perspective, showing the completed lamp with the parts in their relative positions with relation to each other. Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-section of Fig. 3 along the dotted line X X, the view being takenv from above. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view ofthe lower carbon and the arc-forming mechanism to which the lower carbon is attached, the parts being enlarged in order to Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional View of the parabolic reflector, column A, the central support- A' for the reflector, and the carbons in their relative positions in the reflector, the carbons, carbon-inclosin g globe, and carbon-holder being shown in full elevation. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the top carrying-sleeve O, the boss O, the stem K, and split nut K and K, yshowing its relation to the feed-screw E, the view being taken on the line Z Z of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal cross section of the sleeve shown in Fig. 8, the stem K, split nut K and K", the thumb-nutsl and the feedscrew E, the View being taken on'the dotted line WV W of Fig. 3. Fig. 10 is a View of the electric circuit in diagram, showing the rela.

tion of the several parts to each other and to the carbons t t', as willbe more fully described in the body of the specification. Fig. l1 isa perspective view of the armature by which the carbons are separated in order to form and maintain the arc. Fig. l2 is a cross-section of the cap which covers the upper or to'p end of the arc-globe; and Fig. 13 is illustrative of the pawl attached to the ratchet-lever L'", by the operation of which a step-by-step rotation is imparted tothe ratchet-Wheel L, and whereby the feed-screw F. is rotated.

It will be observed that the framework consists of a base B and a vertical column A, having an enlargementnear its center for the rc` ception of the apex of a re'liector, all the parts being supported or attached either to the base or to the column. Along the side and parallel with this Vertical column A is a feedscrew E, on which is carried av nut with its' attached stem, which controls the motion of a sleeve O, which slides on the central column A and on which is supported and regulated the upper carbon t, the carbon being carried on an arm O", extending from the side of the sleeve and having on its outer end a drilled boss 0,in which isinserted a thumbscrew 0", by which the carbon is held in position. To the feed-screw, which is j ournaled at each end, is rigidly attached a ratchetwheel L, and journaling on the feed-screw is a ratchet-lever L", to which is attached a spring-actuated pawl. To the end of the ratchet-lever L" is loosely connected a pitman-rod M, one end of which is enlarged into a boss M, which journals on and is actuated by an eccentric, the eccentric being carried on the armature-shaft of a rotary electric motor H, the rotation of the armature of this motor being sufficient to impart a step-bystep motion to the ratchet-wheel, the recession of the wheel being prevented by means of a check-pawl P and its actuating-spring P, the spring serving the purpose of keeping the pawl in engagement with the teeth L"" on the wheel.

IOO

0n the lower end of the central column A is journaled sleeve D, by means of which the lower carbon, the arc-forming mechanism, and the adjusting parts are supported and operated. Thislower-carbon-carryingsleeve has on one side two projecting lugs D", between which the regulating-nut D" is confined. Through the center of this regulating-nut is journaled a regulating-screw d, by which the sleeve D may be raised or lowered onv the column and whereby the position of the point of the lower carbon may be regulated with relation to the center of the reflector. To the front part of the sleeve D is fastened a magnet-carrier F, this magnetcarrier being insulated from the sleeve by means of a sheet of mica, hard rubber, or other insulating substance z and suitable insulating-bushings e around the screws z. The upper sleeve C,the lower sleeve D, and the column A are preferably made of brass or'other non-corrosive m etals,while the magnet-carrier or heel-plate F F F" (to one side of which is preferably attached an extension FHfor carrying the binding-post Q) should be made of magnetic material, such as cast iron. Of course this part may be of acomposite character and only the heel-plate of the magnet might be of iron; but for the sake of convenience and facilitating the making it is best made of iron. Midway between the magnet-spools S is an extension or boss F, which is preferably cast as part of the heel-plate magnet. This central bosshas a hole in which is loosely iitted and operated a sleeve T, in the lower end of which is screwed a plug T", the purposes of which are to admit the insertion of the lower carbon ,and when the plug is screwed in place it forms an air-tight joint, jarring loose being prevented by a pinf,which is loosely fitted in two plu gs f on the front of the boss,the pin passing through a hole in the flange in the loose nut, through which it is free to operate. The upper part of the sleeve T has a thread cut on its outer surface, onto which is screwed a cupshaped globe-holder U. This globe-holder has an extension or center stem U projecting up into the globe V, and the nut w, screwing onto this stem, holds the .globe in place and draws it down against a packing V,where by a practically gas-tight chamber is produced. Immediately below the globe-holder U is an armature Gr, which is held on the sleeve T by means of set-screw G'". At the outer Vend of this armature G are two arms which project downward into the solenoidmagnets S and in which they are free to move up and down, the two arms serving the double purpose of preventing the sleeve from rotating around its axis and, by the attraction of the coils on the solenoid, to draw the sleeve downward and form an arc between the carbons. Below this armature and surrounding the central sleeve is a spring T, whose purpose is to support the globe, carbon-holder, sleeve, and armature when no current is passing. As soon as the current ows the armature is attracted downward until it comes in contact with the stationary magnet-cores S'", overoomin g the spring T', thereby forming an arc. As soon as the current ceases to circulate in the coils S, which are wrapped around the spools, the spring overcomes the attractive power of the magnets, lifts the carbons upward, and maintains them there until the circuit has been restored. As soon as the circuit has been restored by the carbons t and t' coming in contact with each other the armature is again attracted by the solenoids, drawn downward, and the arc again formed.

It will be observed that there is a bindingpost Q insulated from the heel-plate magnet.

The current enters at this bindin g-post,passes thence by an insulated wire to one spool of the solenoid, and after traversing its coils it then passes to the other spool, through whose coils it circulates, and from there escapes to the heel-plate or frame by which the solenoids are supported.

On the positive side of the lamp the current enters at the binding -post R, passes thence to the central column A, thence to the sleeve C, the arm C, and thence to the npper carbon,'froin which it escapes through the arc to the lower carbon, thence to the sleeve, thence to the magnet-frame and its attached spools, and back to the circuit through the lower binding-post Q, as will be observed in Fig. l0, which is a diagrammatic representation of the circuit. Across the main circuit and in derivation to it is a small motor, which may be of any convenient form, consisting of a field-magnet Hand its coils H', an armature N, its com mutator and brushes n n, the purpose of this motor being to operate the eccentric and through it, by means of the pitman-rod, the ratchet-lever L'". There is also included in this motor-circuit a supplemenvtar resistance Il the uraoses of which are to compensate for the variations in the circuit according to the kind ot` circuiton which the lamp is to be operated.

I will now proceed to describe how the lamp operates. Supposing the top and bottom carbons to be separated, the motor, being in derived or shunt circuit across the terminals of the lamp, will receive the full voltage of the circuit. This causes the motor-armature to turn very rapidly, operating the pitman M and the ratchet-wheel L, and causes the feedscrew E to turn, drawing the nppersleeve C down until the upper carbon t comes in contact with the lower carbon t. As soon as the carbons come in contact with each other the main or arc circuit is completed, and the greater part of the current will then ow from the positive binding-post through the column, upper sleeve, upper carbon, lower carbon, lower sleeve, and solenoids to the negative binding-post, whence it escapes to the circuit. weakens the power of the motor to such an extent that it will either entirely stop running or at any rate run very slowly, and the upper This main circuit bein(Y restored IOO IIO

'carbon is then propelled downward at a rate not to exceed that of its consumption. `In case the are becomes abnormally long the motor becomes energized to a greater extent and operates the carbons more quickly until the equilibrium has been restored.

It will be observed that in making this lamp I have used the inclosed arc, which consists in a glass chamber sealed at the bottom and having a loose cap on top, the seal being maintained as nearly as possible by means of a piece of asbestos4 the asbestos washer being maintained in place by means of a stud fr, attached to and forming part of the cap cc. The lower end of the globe is sealed, as before described, by means of a globe-holder U, having a recess or`cup in it in which the globe sets, and around the bottom of which and in this recess are the packing V and a nut w on the inside of the globe, screwing on the stud for drawing the globe down into close proximity to the packing, whereby the chamber is made practically air-tight below. As soon as the current flows through the carbons and the arc is formed in the globe carbon dioxid is generated, which in itself is a nonsupporter of combustion. The globe soon becomes filled with this gas, the excess of which will flow out of the top around the positive carbon, but little or no oxygen will be allowed to enter, owing to the higher gravity of the carbonio-'acid gas than that of atmospheric air, and in this way very long burning of the lamp is produced, the negative carbon being but very little consumed. In fact by this arrangement it hasbeen found in practice that when the arc has been once formed the light can be burned for several hours without changing the focus materially with relation to the reflector, and should it become necessary to lift the negative carbon it is done by operating the nut D"', by which the sleeve D may be raised or lowered to conform to the center of the reflector.

In case it becomes necessary to clean the globe, which occurs occasionally from the accumulation of the carbon dioxid,which forms a white deposit on the inside of the globe, the" lower-carbon holder U may be unscrewed from the sleeve T and removed, the globe cleaned, and the carbon-holder U screwed back in position in a few minutes without in any way disturbing any of the connections by which the globe is held in position on the globe-holder. The lower carbon may be unloosened to be raised or lowered by turning the thumb-screw U"", by which the carbon is clamped in position. This globe-holder I wish to make a featgre of my claims. By referring to Figs. 2, 3, 8, and 9 it will be observed that the nut K and K, which surrounds the feed-screw E, is made split, the two halves being held together by thumbnuts K. The purposes of this split nut are to enable the operator to raise the sleeve C on the column without turning the feedscrew; and when it is taken into consideration that the threads on this screw are about forty to the inch the utility will be apparent. On one side of the split nut is a turned stem K, which projects into a holder in the boss C This stem being round and loosein the holder allows for any irregularity in the feedscrew without binding and is of Very great utility, because it is almost impossible to have perfect alinemeut between the upper or supporting stem J and the base.

' By referring to Fig. 7 it will be observed that the column A has a cup-shaped enlargement near its center in which the apex of the reiector gj projects and a hole through which the back stem y' of the reector projects, the reflector bein g held in position by being drawn into the recess by means of a nut y'". This recess enables me to support the reflector more perfectly and also enables mc to make the arms which support the carbons very short, and the lamp will thereby be made more compact, taking up much less room than would be possible were the column set at the side of thel reflector, as is customary, or as shown in my Patent No. 403,964, of May 28, 1889, in which a lamp apparatus is s hown somewhat in line with the present invention.

It is evident that the most perfect operation of an arc can be produced by the lamp herein shown for the following reason: The feedscrew having about forty threads to the inch and the ratchet-wheel two hundred teeth, it is evident that the motor-armature will have to turn about eight thousand times during the consumption of one inch of carbon. In practice with half-inch carbcns of good quality I have found that the upper carbon consumes about eleven sixty-fourths of an inch and the lower carbon consumes about three sixtyfourthsofan inch per hour. ByexaminingFig. 7 in particular it will be observed that the top carbon is set ahead of the bottom one. In other words, they are not axially in line. In practice with a No. 2 refiectorwhieh has a focus' of two and one-eighth inches, the top carbon is set one-eighth inch out ofalinement, which causes the crater to burn on one side, reflecting the light more perfectly against the apex IOO IIO

of the reflector, and besides the point of the carbon is burned away to a bevel ofnearly thirty degrees, and as the lower carbon only consumes about three sixty-fourths of an inch per hour and taking into consideration the bevel on the upper carbon it is evident thatthe lower carbon will operatesuccessfully for several hours without readjusting the arc to the focus of the reflector. Then when it becomes necessary to readjust the focus by turning the thumb-nut DH the sleeve D is raised and with itthe lower carbon and its appurtenances. The lower carbon may be raised independently of this thumb-nut by loosening the thumb-screwU, by which it is clamped in position in the tube T.

Having described the principal features of '4 @tosta my invention, whatI claim as new, and wish to secure by` Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In an arc-lamp, the combination with the top and bottom carbons, of a reflector, an arcglobe inclosed by it, a column, a carbon-carrier carried by the column, a screw for feeding the upper carbon downward, and a support for the arc-globe consisting of a globeholder, a tube and a spring, whereby the arcglobe and lower carbon move conjunctively.

2. In an arc-lamp, the combination with the top and bottom carbons of a globe having a loose-fitting cover for its top, the lower end having a holder for clamping the globe consisting of a central screw-threaded stem, a split nut on the stem, an annular recess surrounding the stem and a screw-threaded cup on one end of the globe-holder, whereby the holder may be attached to a carbon-tube, and a carbonclamp and screw for closing the clamp, as set forth.

3. In an arc-lamp, the combination with the arc-globe, of a holder therefor having a screwthread cut in its lower end, an annular recess on its upper end surrounding a central stem, the globe fitted into the recess, and a split nut surrounding the stem inside of the globe, as set forth.

4. In an arc-lamp, the combination of a cen- .tral column, a carbon-carrier mounted on the column,the carbon-carrier having a stem with a hole therein, a feed-screw for operating the carbon-carrier, a split nut engaging the feedscrew, the nut having a stud on one side, the stud entering a hole in the stem in the carbon-carrier, whereby irregularities of alinement between the carbon-carrier and feedscrew are compensated for, as set forth.

5. In an arc-lamp, the combination of a round column, with an upper-carbon carrier sliding on the column, a screw, a split nut engaging the screw and the upper carbon carrier, a ratchet-wheel attached to the screw,

a. ratchet-lever and pawl, a pitman-rod, one end attached to the ratchet-lever, the other end engaging an eccentric, and an electric motor for actuating the eccentric,whereby r0- tary motion is imparted to the ratchet-wheel,

las set forth.

6. In an arc-lamp, the combination of the top and bottom carbons, a globe surrounding the end of the carbons, a screw-rod for feeding one of the carbons, a ratchet-wheel mounted on the screw, a pitman-rod and an eccentric for actuating the ratchet-wheel, and an electric motor for actuating the eccentric, as set forth.

7. In an arc-lamp, the combination of the positive and negative carbons, a globe surrounding one end of the carbons, a carrier for the positive carbon, a screw-rod for actuating and supporting the carbon-carrier, a wheel secured to the screw-rod whereby the screw is caused to rotate, and a rotary electric motor having a crank on its armatureshaft and a pitman-rod operated by the crank, whereby rotary motion is imparted to thewheel on the screw-rod and the carbon is fed, as set forth.

8. In an arc-lamp, the combination of a reiiector having a fixed focus, a globe inclosed by the reflector, a globe-holder, an electromagnet and its armature, and means whereby the globe is supported and actuated in conjunction with a carbon-point inclosed by the globe, and means whereby the globe is caused to be drawn downward by the electromagnet, when the carbon-points are in contact, as set forth.

9. In an arc-lamp, the combination, with an electromagnet having fixed cores, of an armature having dependent points projecting into the helix of the electromagnet, a tube on which the armature is fastened, and a spring for supporting the armature, when inactive, as set forth.

10. In an arc-lamp, the combination with the negative carbon pencil of a combined globe-holder and carbon-holder therefor consisting of a central disk, a cup-shaped cavity in its lower end, a carbon-tube screwed into the cup, an annular groove on the upper face of the globe and carbon holder, a tubulaiscrew-threaded stem projecting from the face of the holder, a tube in the central stem, and a clamp-screw for compressing the tube and clamping the carbon, as set forth.

1l. In an arc-lamp, the combination, of a carbon-carrier having a projecting arm for supporting a carbon, and a projecting tube, with a screw-rod, and a split nut surrounding and engaging the threads of the rod, and a stem attached to one side of the nut and projecting into the tubular projection on the carbon-carrier, as set forth.

l2. In an arc-lamp, the combination of a base, a column mounted on the base, two sleeves carried by the column, ascrew-threaded rod, a wheel on the screw, a lever, a pitman-rod, a crank, and an electric motor for actuating one of the sleeves, the other sleeve IOO IIO

actuated by a screw and a nut located between tailpieces on the side of the sleeve, the screw passing through the axis of the nut, as set forth.

13. In an arc-lam p, the combination of a base B, column A, sleeve C, screw-threaded rod E journaled in. arm J and the base, split nut K K" having a stem K on one side loosely fitted in a sleeve C', a wheel L fastened to the screw-rod E, and an electric motor having a rotary crank on its armature-shaft, a connecting-rod extending from the crank on the electric motor to a lever whereby continuous rotary motion is transformed from the armature of the electric motor into intermittent rotary motion on the screw-rod, as set forth.

14. In an arc-lamp, the combination of a column A having a central cup-shaped part IZO A', a hole A in the base of the cup, :t relar G having set-screws G, and tailpeees Hector y Whose apex projects into the c np, G", as set forth. 1o and a back stem fy on the reectortted into In testimony whereof I have set my hand the hole A", and a nut fy" for retaining the in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

5 back stem in position, as set forth. VILLIAM L. SILVEY.

l5. In an are-lamp, the combination, with W'tnesses: :L carbon-tube, ofen armature therefor, con- E. R. KIRBY,

ssting of a straight portion G', a central co1- FRANK BUCHANANu 

